About Me

My name is Pooja Parikh. I am 29 years old and I live in Edmond, Oklahoma.

I originally started this blog with no real direction. I planned on blogging about whatever came to mind, whenever it came to my mind. As I’ve thought more about it, I’ve gained a little more insight into what I’m wanting to convey.

I have a disease called Hidradenitis Suppurativa, which has determined much of my life throughout the past several years (you can read about my story here). My family and I have been through more than I could have ever imagined–in less than a year’s time, I went from running my first full marathon to being so sick that I was in a wheelchair and completely dependent on others for menial tasks like brushing my teeth or feeding myself. I know and have experienced the true horror of this disease, and I want to try to provide any advice/help/support to anyone suffering from it as well.

Additionally, I want to explore the relationship between physical health and mental health, as well as the obstacles involved in managing to steer through life while dealing with chronic illness. The only thing I’m really an expert at is the art of making mistakes, but hopefully I can provide some perspective from my own experiences and start some conversations about the acceptability of mistakes and the importance of learning from them.

Six years ago, I tried an elimination diet using the Paleo Diet as a base and later reintroducing foods to find what foods were potential triggers for me. At that time, I found that nightshades were my main triggers, and I have steered clear of them since then. Now I am on the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP–hence the name AIPooja!), which I’ve learned is more of a lifestyle than simply a diet. I’m seeking healing, peace, wellness, and some sense of normalcy.

What you’ll find here: AIP-compliant recipes, posts about my journey with physical health, mental health, general musings, and hopefully some inspiration to take with you as you continue your journey.

One person (yes, person) who will most likely pop up on here from time to time is Margo. She is my favorite person and ultimate source of support. And bonus: she loves vegetables just as much as I do. Here’s Margo:

One thing that I feel is necessary to mention is that anything I explain on my blog is based on my own understanding. Do not take my words as proof for facts, but please feel free to correct me if need be. And I’m always willing to provide more information (through reputable sources) if there are questions or confusion!

3 Responses to About Me

I recently discovered your blog and wanted to thank you for sharing your story, you are the first athlete I found to share about living with hidradenitis suppurativa and Paleo diet. Your story is inspirational, I would like to write a blog post about your marathon in April. Best of luck!

Hey Otilia, thank you so much for reading my blog. Marathon training has definitely been a challenge while dealing with the disease, but it gives me a reason to keep going. I would be honored for you to write a post about my upcoming marathon. Let me know if I can answer any questions for you!

Welcome to AIPooja!

My name is Pooja, and I am trying to keep my head above water while balancing disease, wellness, and graduate school. Continually learning and growing, with no end in sight. I hope you find something you can relate to here!